Air Canada Plans Toronto-Los Angeles-Sydney Route for 2007

Air Canada will apply to Canadian and Australian authorities to commence a daily Toronto-Los Angeles-Sydney service.

The plan comes as a result of new market opportunities presented by the recently expanded Open Skies Agreement for Canada and the United States.

Flights would start during the first half of 2007 with the delivery of Air Canada´s new Boeing 777 fleet featuring industry-leading lie-flat suites in the Executive First cabin and personal entertainment systems at each customer´s seat throughout the aircraft.

Air Canada already operates between the U.S. and Australia on its Vancouver- Honolulu-Sydney service using existing route authorities.

With an elapsed westbound time of 21 hours and 15 minutes, Air Canada´s Toronto-Sydney flights via Los Angeles would offer the fastest elapsed time of any airline from eastern Canada to Australia, shaving three and a half hours off current Air Canada routings and also offering one-stop service from all business markets across Canada.

The daily flights would serve Canadian, American and Australian consumers as well as freight forwarders, seeking convenient and competitive air transportation between Canada and Australia, the United States and Australia, and Canada and the United States. Air Canada plans to work with its Star Alliance partners, Air New Zealand, United Airlines and US Airways, through schedule coordination and codeshare services to offer customers increased choice and convenience.